Podcast: Drug Overdoses Are Spiking As The Coronavirus Pandemic Continues

    “With the social distancing, with isolation, people are taking these drugs mostly on their own. With that comes less of a chance to resuscitate."

    News O'Clock
    by News O'Clock

    BuzzFeed Contributor

    Alex Edelman / Getty Images

    Firefighters and paramedics with Anne Arundel County Fire Department wear enhanced PPE, during the coronavirus pandemic, as they treat a patient in cardiac arrest as a result of a drug overdose on May 6, 2020, in Brooklyn Park, Maryland.

    The date: July 6! The time: News O'Clock! Listen here!

    You can listen to today's News O'Clock above or on any of these platforms:

    Or find News O'Clock wherever you might listen to your favorite podcasts.

    On today's episode of News O'Clock:

    We talked with Washington Post health and science reporter William Wan about how even as the coronavirus ravages the US, drug overdose cases are spiking around the country.

    Also, we discuss President Trump's speeches from this 4th of July weekend and how it seems like he's making “statues good, protesters bad” his central campaign theme.

    Saul Loeb / Getty Images

    US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive for the Independence Day events at Mount Rushmore National Memorial in Keystone, South Dakota, on July 3.

    In other big news, Uber is offering over $2 BILLION to buy the delivery app Postmates.

    And some sad news from over the weekend — Broadway star Nick Cordero died from COVID-19 complications. He was 41.

    Dave Kotinsky / Getty Images

    Nick Cordero attends HBO's premiere of Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown on Oct. 20, 2014, in New York City.

    Also, Hayes gets really excited about how a certain birdcall has changed over time; Casey is...less impressed.

    Lastly, if you have thoughts on the overdose spikes, want to tell us about your favorite birdsong, or have anything at all you want to share with us, feel free to send us an email: newsoclock@buzzfeed.com! You can either write down your brilliant opinion OR, even better, record it and send it as a voice memo. You can also DM us on Twitter — we’re @NewsOClock.